Howie’s Cat
Date1980s
Object number00056022
NameToy
MediumSynthetic fibres
DimensionsOverall: 125 × 240 × 640 mm
ClassificationsToys, games and souvenirs
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection gift of Australian Antarctic Division
DescriptionWhite plush cat that belonged to Instrument Technician Howie Burton who lived on board the Antarctic research vessel AURORA AUSTRALIS.HistoryWhile the average length of time to reach Antarctica from a Hobart departure port is +/- seven days at speed, the average ANARE research expedition is absent from the mainland for an average of three months. Most of this time in the early or later periods of the program was spent at sea on board AURORA AUSTRALIS, conducting microbiological research, seabird studies and other towed or deployed instrumentation surveys for seawater and sediment research as required by the overarching aims of the ANARE season. In short, quite a bit of time spent at sea, in what was commonly rough weather, at close quarters.
Howie’s cat has had a rough but thrilling life as a member of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE), operated by the Australian Antarctic Division. This stuffed cat belonged to Instrument Technician Howie Burton, and lived on board the Antarctic research vesselAURORA AUSTRALIS. Its importance to Antarctic research is best summed up by a brief statement included with the cat display while ensconced in the AURORA AUSTRALIS’ mess hall for many years:
“Of all the soft toys who have served with ANARE over the years, none have as proud a record of achievement as Howie’s Cat. Owned by the late Howie Burton, the Cat has visited every Antarctic station and Heard Island and has been personally involved in most marine science programs. It accompanied many oceanographic instruments, setting a world record for cat diving of 4700 meters on a CTD cast. It features as a scale in many sea floor photographs, particularly in Prdyz Bay. It has frequently donned wings to appear in bird observation logs, it has appeared in most parts of the ship on occasions and has stood in for the orca mascot on the foremast. All this has not been without cost to the Cat. It has frequently required open heart surgery to get its squeaker going after the perilous adventures such as being frozen in blocks of ice. After Howie’s death in 1993, the Cat has been in retirement but its example remains an inspiration to the soft toys of ANARE.”’
Howie’s Cat and its display case were donated to the museum by the AAD on the retirement from service of the AURORA AUSTRALIS.
SignificanceIn the tough conditions of Antarctic research, humour, entertainment and a team mascot were considered as important for research and technical staff wellbeing as were regular meals. Howie’s Cat is significant of the role of stuffed toys in the ANARE program, and the importance of social wellbeing within remote research teams.
1977 - 1978
